We tend to hate what scares us, and spiders are pros at that. 

Some folks claim they’re not afraid of them—sure, just like some claim they don’t like chocolate. 

These people are a bit like the yeti or Loch Ness Monster: not saying they don’t exist, just that they’re rare and, honestly, less cool. 

If you’re human, odds are spiders give you the creeps. But Spiderman? 

He’s a different story, right?

Spiderman’s the approachable, joke-cracking hero who makes the neighbourhood safer by slinging webs at bullies. 

Peter Parker wasn’t born with powers—he was a wallflower until a spider bit him, spinning his destiny into something extraordinary. 

Don’t just see Spiderman as a comic-book gimmick, though. 

He’s a myth—a symbol of regular folks transformed by a life-changing event. And the shooting-cobwebs-thingy, becomes a metaphor for their good deeds towards the community. 

And that brings us to “Sa Balanguera,” a Catalan tale where the spider’s web becomes the tapestry of life itself.

What Does ‘Sa Balanguera’ Even Mean?

In Catalan from Majorca, “Sa Balanguera” translates to “the one who dances in circles,” a nod to weaving life’s threads, much like a spider crafts her web. 

Sa Balanguera it’s a poem by Joan Alcover, now adapted as the Balearic Islands’ anthem, that paints her as a mysterious force:

Sa Balanguera misteriosa                   The mysterious Balanguera
Com un aranya d’art subtil                 Like a spider of subtle art
Buida que buida sa filosa                    Spins and spins her filament
De nostra vida treu el fil                     From our life she draws the thread

Here, “Sa Balanguera” isn’t literally a spider—it’s a metaphor for fate, taking spider-form to weave the grand design of the natural world.

‘Sa Balanguera’ as the Paragon of Motherhood

In ancient times, the Balanguera was the primordial mother, a mirror for all mothers who bind past and future. 

They receive the spirits of the dead to weave new life. There was a time when every woman—shepherdess to queen—spun and wove. 

As the saying went, “The queen who does not know how to spin and weave does not know how to govern or rule.” 

The Balanguera, the ultimate mother, will keep spinning until humans master their own destinies. Only then will life’s tapestry truly dazzle.

‘Sa Balanguera,’ a Faerie in Disguise

Here’s the kicker: in Catalan folklore, faeries weave and guard life’s tapestry, drawing power from nature’s beauty. 

They don’t trust humans, so they hide—turning into birds, ladybugs, spiders, or blending into the scenery and becoming invisible to the human eye.

That spider you’re tempted to squish? It might be a faerie at work—or even Sa Balanguera herself, threading your fate.

So next time you spot a spider, pause. Be kind. You might just be sparing a faerie mid-masterpiece. spinning the invisible strands of your own destiny. 

Who knows—maybe she’s weaving something amazing for you.